Fact Check: More than a dozen Canadian Sikhs are facing active assassination threats originating from India, according to the World Sikh Organization (WSO) on October 26, 2023.

Fact Check: "More than a dozen Canadian Sikhs are facing active assassination threats originating from India, according to the World Sikh Organization (WSO) on October 26, 2023."

What We Know

On October 26, 2023, the World Sikh Organization (WSO) publicly stated that more than a dozen Canadian Sikhs are currently under active assassination threats that they claim originate from the Indian government. Balpreet Singh, a lawyer and spokesperson for the WSO, emphasized the seriousness of these threats during a news conference, urging the Canadian government to take action against India, including canceling an invitation for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the upcoming G7 meeting (source-2).

The context for these threats stems from a broader campaign of intimidation and violence against Sikhs in Canada, which has reportedly intensified following the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. Canadian authorities have linked Nijjar's murder to a campaign orchestrated by the Indian government, which has led to heightened fears within the Sikh community in Canada (source-1).

Analysis

The claim made by the WSO is supported by a series of alarming incidents and warnings issued by Canadian law enforcement. Reports indicate that Sikh activists, including Moninder Singh, have received multiple warnings about threats to their lives, corroborating the assertion that there is a credible risk to their safety (source-2). Furthermore, the Canadian government has expressed grave concerns about the safety of Sikhs, suggesting a systemic issue of intimidation linked to foreign interference (source-1).

However, it is essential to consider the reliability of the sources involved. The WSO is a recognized advocacy group within the Sikh community, which lends credibility to their claims. Yet, their position may inherently carry a bias against the Indian government, given the historical context of Sikh nationalism and the ongoing tensions between Canada and India regarding Sikh issues (source-1).

Additionally, while the Canadian authorities have acknowledged the threats, they have not publicly released specific evidence linking these threats directly to the Indian government, citing ongoing investigations (source-1). This lack of publicly available evidence may lead to skepticism regarding the full extent of the claims made by the WSO.

Conclusion

The claim that more than a dozen Canadian Sikhs are facing active assassination threats from India is True. The statements from the WSO, supported by warnings from law enforcement and the context of recent violent incidents, substantiate the assertion. While the evidence linking these threats directly to the Indian government remains largely circumstantial and unverified in the public domain, the overall situation reflects a serious and credible concern for the safety of Sikh activists in Canada.

Sources

1. How a Campaign of Fear Has Shaken Canada's Sikhs
2. More than a dozen Canadian Sikhs face active assassination threats, organization warns
3. More than a dozen Canadian Sikhs face active assassination threats
4. WSO Questions Anand's Silence on Sikh Killings in Talks with India
5. Group accuses India of targeting Sikhs in Canada, slams Modi
6. Sikh groups ask Carney to withdraw Indian PM Modi's invitation to G7 summit
7. Group accuses India of targeting Sikhs in Canada, slams Modi
8. FBI warned prominent US Sikhs of threats after murder